Getting drunk after finding out your boyfriend of 4 years cheated? Totally normal.
Keying his new girlfriend’s car? Understandable.
Finding out that car actually belongs to someone else? A nightmare.
Now, Maxine finds herself working for Reid to pay off the repairs. The older man is bossy and demanding, overprotective and overbearing. He’s not at all the kind of man she thought she wanted, but the more time she spends under his watchful eye, the harder it is to ignore the sparks between them or the heat simmering beneath his controlled exterior.
With Reid as the reward, being naughty has never felt so nice.
This book contains explicit scenes and is recommended for readers over the age of 18.
My Review
How could he do this? After all this time, he cheated on me. I’ve played it safe for years, just like my parents said. I’ve got nothing to show for it. And even worse, I completely messed up. I guess self-pity only leads to messing up a stranger’s car. He looks so mad. Yet there’s something magnetic about him. Everything Rheid says brings on a fire that can’t be quenched. And oh boy, am I tempted to push back against it. This may be happening fast, but maybe it’s time to risk being burned.
My relationship with my ex is over, and the children are grown. I’ve moved on from her, but this new girl is a wild card. She pushes my buttons in just the right places and knows exactly when to listen. Maxine is a natural at this. Full of untapped potential. She was wasted on that little boy. Sometimes she misbehaves on purpose, but I guess only a man can tame a brat.
Brat Christmas by Melody Tyden offers a mature and tantalizing take on the classic post-breakup meet-cute scenario. Reid has long had time to move on from his cheating ex-wife. Maxine has only just started the journey to getting over hers. But when the two meet, they both know exactly what they want. This novel has us join them on the journey of their unfolding bdsm dynamic as brat/brat tamer and as romantic partners.
Maxine is sassy and doesn’t realize how much of a tease she can be. When she’s not held back, she’s fiery even in her submission. She was always the one forced to be in control. She never got the chance to experience true risk-taking. This denied her the type of stability that comes with not always being the one to manage things. Rheid offers her that escape by allowing her to trust someone enough to take the reins from those everyday challenges. He also gives her the room to show her worth without being cloistered into a box she never quite fit in in the first place.
As for Reid, Maxine gives him the chance to take a risk on another person again. Her unrestrained self is exactly what Reid is after. His age brings the maturity of knowing who he is and what he wants. And while that comes with a controlled, steady hand, it never feels like a power trip brought on by uncertainty. He takes steps to make sure that both of their needs are met. He knows he wants her, but he knows the best means for it to succeed is with a firm grasp of their tastes and temperaments. He wants all of Maxine. And she comes to learn that she does as well.
The romance / bdsm dynamics truly went hand in hand. There wasn’t an oversaturation of one half over the other. The scenes were perfectly balanced when separate and blended together so well that you could see how they were meant to be. The relationship felt organic with natural progression. While they’re sexual chemistry comes in hot and heavy early on, the romance somehow manages to maintain those slow-burning elements while never giving the impression that they won’t end up together. They feel all in from the very beginning. As their chemistry gets hotter and hotter, their romance grows sweeter and sweeter. Even what normally would be the smallest moment of a different story feels monumental and well-earned.
Reid was an exceptional Dom. The kink negotiation really showed his command of experience as a brat tamer. This wasn’t his first rodeo, and he wanted to make sure Maxine was cared for and secure in their relationship. The scenes would increase in intensity each time, all in measure to Maxine’s training and emotional growth. Even when he was in control, it never felt like Maxine was being belittled or never had choices. I enjoyed the aftercare as much as their playtime. The scenes that showed different aspects of the lifestyle were incredibly thorough, from the clubs, private moments, subdrop, and even a non-toxic representation of someone needing to use their safe word made me smile. I enjoyed their aftercare moments as much as their playtime. How firm yet gentle he is when handling Maxine was downright swoon-worthy.
Maxine’s brat role was never forced or exaggerated. She found a piece of herself she never even knew she had. Her role as a brat never came off as annoyingly overused or toxicly infantile. It wasn’t a matter of being contradictorily her worst self. She values Reid and his opinion of her and wanted to give herself to him fully. She knows when to push back and when to follow her dom’s lead. The author also shows us that being a brat doesn’t necessarily mean being treated like a child with no agency. The fact that Maxine is still treated like a grown woman even in her brat role highlights the comparisons between Reid and Josh further. While Josh made her do everything, he never valued or listened to her. Rheid takes control but still treats her like a person. The difference in maturity was staggering.
The greatest thing about this novel is its maturity. The relationships are conveyed in a realistic adult way. The only ones shown to be childish are from the past. Childishness and miscommunication are not rewarded. The characters actually have to grow and maintain their growth to achieve a happy ending; anything less is left behind.
The best example is in the case of Maxine, when she starts putting her past doubts instilled by her parents and puts Josh in her past, she starts to blossom into the person she’s meant to be. She becomes bolder and more willing to take what she wants. She achieves a partner who values her for who she is and gives her control without pushing all responsibility of maintaining the relationship onto her. Putting in the effort leads to greater rewards without fear of unwanted punishment.
Josh, on the other hand, stays stuck in his ways until it leads to moments where the reader might find him particularly audacious and punchable. He only proves that Maxine moving on from him really was the way to go, and she deserves better. The side plot with Josh and Sam fully played out. Josh gets exactly what he deserves, and what happens feels extremely cathartic.
Speaking of maturity, I appreciate the take on Maxine’s friendships. They’re extremely supportive of Maxine exploring and finding herself. The non-judgmental atmosphere makes them very lovable in the scenes they’re in. They comfort her at her lows and cheer her on at her highs. They even support her playful, naughty antics. They are exemplary examples of true blue friendships. And even when they do express concern, they never do it in a way that’s condescending or demeaning to Maxine’s ability to make her own choices. They serve as lovely examples of healthy adult friendships.
Everything I hoped to see, I got to. I never felt like the story was missing something or was left picturing what-ifs. There was never any major miscommunication. When it felt like a moment like that could develop, it was swiftly shut down. Nothing ever felt dragged out. Maxine and Reid act like mature adults and don’t linger or fester in drama. Everything had its time, place,and purpose. And despite it being set around Christmas time, it didn’t become so hyper-focused on the holiday that it took the spotlight from the main couple. The novel does all this while still capturing that wintery vibe that made me love it even more.
And just when I thought it was all closed out, and we were getting a full HEA, it goes all in with a HFN cliffhanger. One with a simple yet eye-catching twist that’ll keep you salivating for more. Melody Tyden really never misses a beat, and I love her for it. I’m so hyped to see Maxine and Reid’s Colorado adventure. I’m to seeing how their relationship develops further with time. Valentine’s Day can’t come fast enough.
Until next time,
Lynzee
If you would like to read A Brat Christmas by Melody Tyden you can find this book on Amazon. As an Amazon Associate I earn on qualifying purchases.
If you like this book you may also enjoy books these tags and categories: Age Gap, Holiday Romance and Winter.
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